Atishi Appointed as Delhi’s New Chief Minister Following Kejriwal’s Resignation.
New Delhi:
Atishi has been announced as the new Chief Minister of Delhi, succeeding Arvind Kejriwal, who resigned following his recent release from prison on bail in a corruption case. The decision was confirmed by Kejriwal himself during a meeting with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Atishi, 43, will assume the role temporarily until the state legislative assembly elections scheduled for February 2025. She is set to become the third woman to serve as Delhi’s chief minister, following Sheila Dikshit of the Congress and Sushma Swaraj of the BJP. Notably, she will also be the youngest individual to hold this office.
In his resignation announcement, Kejriwal, who had been Delhi’s chief minister since 2015, declared, “Today I have come to ask the public whether you consider Kejriwal honest or a criminal … I will resign from the post of CM two days from today and ask people whether I am honest.” This came in the wake of his bail from India’s Supreme Court, which had granted him relief from detention related to alleged discrepancies in Delhi’s liquor policy.
Kejriwal, a prominent critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), described his arrest as part of a “political conspiracy” aimed at undermining him. His party, the AAP, has aligned itself with the Congress-led INDIA alliance.
Atishi, who has been a significant member of the AAP and has previously held portfolios in finance and education, expressed her commitment to carrying forward Kejriwal’s vision. In her address to the media, she stated, “I will work with just one goal. We have to make Arvind Kejriwal the chief minister of Delhi once again,” acknowledging Kejriwal as her mentor.
The transition in leadership underscores the continuing influence and dynamic nature of Delhi’s political landscape. Atishi’s appointment not only marks a significant milestone as Delhi’s youngest and third woman chief minister but also reinforces the AAP’s determination to maintain its governance in the capital.
